US2035A - Mode of manufacturing corselets for medicinal and other purposes - Google Patents

Description

ALANSON ABBE, OF YVORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MODE OF MANUFACTURING CDRSELETS FOR MEDICINAL AND OTHER PURPOSES,

Specification of Letters Patent No. 2,035, dated April 2, 1841.

To all whom/2'15 may concern Be it known that I, ALANsoN Anne, of \Vorcester, in the county of lVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manner .of Making Corselets for Medical Purposes and other Uses, called Alanson Abbes Improvement in the Manufacture of corselets, of which the following is a correct. description.

The corselet consists of a back piece, and of two side pieces, which are united to and open from the back piece by a hinge of metal, cloth, or other material fixed at the top, and in front are laced with strings. These are made when connected to inclose the breast, shoulder, upper part of the back, and are adjusted to the shape of the wearer, or represent the figure of the body of a well formed person.

The corselet affords support to the frame and may be advantageously used to prevent or remedy distortions of the spine or chest.

In making the corselet a mold is prepared of any metal, wood, plaster, or other suitable material, having a back piece, represented in the drawing by Figures 2, 3, 5, A This piece at the top rises over the shoulder blade, having on each upper corner a circular opening or depression to receive the arms, Fig. 2, a, a, and is made to inclose about one-half of the body. At the bottom it is expanded, and forms a rim corresponding to the swell of the human figure in the part the corselet is intended to cover. This construction is represented in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 1 at b, b. At the upper corner of the mold, below the arm a hinge is attached for the purpose of connection with the side pieces, or such hinge may be applied to the corselet after being taken from the mold, or omitted entirely.

The hinge, which may be of metal, cloth, leather or other fit material is represented in Figs. 3, and 5, c, c.

The side pieces are of oblong shape, swelling at the top to receive the breasts, and curving outward toward the bottom, for the purpose of bringing the distorted figure erect and ofgiving gracefullness to the form of the wearer. They are represented in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, A; they have a hinge at the upper corner, corresponding with that already described as attached to the back piece, and of similar materials. Along the edges of the several pieces are perforated holes for strings, to lace the back pieceto the side pieces, and to lace the front pieces together, so as to ad ust' the corselet when Worn to the convenience of the wearer;

All the pieces are made to conform tothe shape of the wearer, or to correspond to an erect and well formed person; so that when the corselet is used it shall fit to the shape of the person, if well formed, as nearly as possible at every part; but if the figure be distorted, then the corselet being adapted to an erect and well formed body, will press. only on the prominent parts they cover when worn.

If made of metal, the mold may be fitted to any figure or form of the body, by being forged; or the pieces may be cast in a mold of plaster of Paris of other substance. When the mold has been prepared, the piece is laid down with the upper surface outward. Linen or cotton cloth of such size, thickness, firmness and strength as may be desired is stretched over the outward surface and secured by being sewed through the holes on the edges or across the inside of the mold or in any other convenient mode. The upper surface of the cloth is then covered with varnish, and over the varnish is laid a sheet of pasteboard large enough to cover the mold. This sheet may be secured in its place by glue or other substances of adhesive quality if it be not retained firmly by the varnish. To adjust the sheet to the swell and curve of the mold, cuts are made at the top and bottom longitudinally, so that the upper and lower edges when pressed upon the mold will be in strips. After the sheet has been adjusted to the mold, the triangular openings between the cuttings occasioned by the pressure and spreading apart, are filled with pieces of pasteboard carefully fitted so as to make the whole sheet of even thickness. The upper surface of the pasteboard is then covered with a coat of varnish and the upper covering of cloth is stretched over and pressed smooth. The whole is dried by exposure to the air or by heat.

The thickness of the. corselets may be increased to any degree required of stiffness or thickness by adding successive layers of pasteboard or of cloth, or any part may be made flexible or stiffened as required. WVhen the corselet is formed the exterior surfaces or either of them may be varnished. A double mold may be used formed by two sets of the single mold, each of the pieces being made to fit over and to correspond to each other. The varnish may be prepared from gum lopal, gum shellac, or from any other glutinous substance having the quality of being adhesive, and which when dried will not be soluble by the perspiration of the body or exposure to moisture. India rubber (caoutchouc) may be employed after being dissolved in the usual manner. \Vhalebone or horn or other similar material which can be softened by heat or in other manner so as to yield to pressure and afterward to regain its hardness, may be used, either spread in one sheet or cut into strips. WVhen whalebone or horn is taken, the double mold must be employed. The cloth having been stretched over the mold and the material adjusted and covered with cloth as before described either with or without varnish, the molds are pressed together, and heated to the temperature which will cause the material to conform to the shape of the mold, or the whalebone or horn may be formed upon the mold and afterwards covered with cloth when cold.

Any part of the corselets may be stiffened and shaped upon the mold as before clescribed, and any part may be left without The mode of manufacturing oorselets by forming them of any suitable material upon a mold, or between double molds as above specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at "Worcester 011 this fifteenth day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty one in presence of the witnesses whose names are hereafter written.

ALANSON ABBE.

Witnesses DANL W. LINCOLN, WILLIAM LINCOLN.

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